Business of Media
Nine denies Costello was secret Packer casino lobbyist
Nine Entertainment has denied chairman Peter Costello worked as a “secret Crown lobbyist” for James Packer after the allegation was raised in a selection of the billionaire’s erratic emails leaked to the press, reports Nine Publishing’s Mark Di Stefano.
According to the emails published by The Australian on Monday, Packer claimed he’d hired Costello to be a casino lobbyist in 2011, helping him get “close to” the Victorian gaming minister. Nine said Costello was an “adviser” to Packer during that time, and refuted claims he was working as an unregistered lobbyist.
“Peter Costello did NOT lobby for CPH, he was an adviser to them on other business matters for a year in 2011. He has never been a registered lobbyist because he isn’t a lobbyist,” a spokesperson for Nine said.
HBO Max lays off about 70 people
Roughly 70 HBO Max staff members were laid off on Monday, job cuts that are part of a wider reorganization at the cable channel’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, according to two people with knowledge of the layoffs, reports The New York Times’ John Koblin.
The cuts amount to about 14 percent of the people who report to Casey Bloys, the chief content officer of HBO and HBO Max, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the decision was private.
Warner Bros. Discovery, which began as HBO’s parent company in April when AT&T spun off WarnerMedia and merged it with Discovery Inc., has a crushing debt load of more than $50 billion. Executives at the new company have vowed to find $3 billion worth of savings, and significant layoffs are expected at the company in the coming weeks, particularly in areas where WarnerMedia and Discovery have overlap.
See More: HBO Max and Discovery+ to merge as economic instability bites
Walmart enters streaming deal with Paramount+ in race with Amazon
U.S. retailer Walmart Inc on Monday struck a deal with Paramount Global to offer Paramount+ streaming service to the subscribers of its membership program in a push to better compete with Amazon.com Inc, reports Reuters.
Members of Walmart+ will get access to Paramount’s “essential” plan, which costs $4.99 per month and includes commercials. It also offers a $9.99-per-month service without ads.
Walmart+ membership costs $12.95 per month or $98 per year and includes free shipping on orders and discounts on fuel as well as a free six-month subscription to Spotify’s premium music service.
Tasmanian Aboriginal screen production company, kutikina, launches
The first ever Tasmanian Aboriginal screen production company, kutikina, has launched. It is owned and operated by playwright-screenwriter Nathan Maynard and author-screenwriter Adam Thompson, reports Variety Australia’s Vivienne Kelly.
The name ‘kutikina’ – lower case as per the palawa kani language – represents a long history of palawa storytelling and is a symbol of accountability and truth-telling.
The new company will focus on scripted content and telling Tasmanian Aboriginal stories, and will engage in broader industry and practitioner development for an emerging First Nations screen culture in Tasmania.
Agencies
Andy Flemming steps into permanent creative lead role at 72andSunny
Former M&C Saatchi group creative director Andy Flemming has been promoted to a permanent role with 72andSunny as creative lead.
Flemming has worked with 72andSunny for close to a year, working on a number of campaigns, including Google’s ‘Helping You Help Them’ campaign and the ilume stop-motion film ‘Stay.’
Flemming said, “The 72 crew is full of ridiculous talent from world-class places such as BBH London, Apple, Facebook, Wieden & Kennedy and Droga5, New York. And the standard of the work reflects this.
“Everyone just gets on, there’s no politics and the work is the singular focus. And the chance to get to work again with the incomparable Gen Hoey was too good to pass up.”
Hatched opens Sydney office and expands leadership team
Australian-owned media agency Hatched has announced the opening of a Sydney office, with Mike Wilson joining the executive leadership team and Simon Porter taking on the role of head of retail.
Wilson is the founder and chairman of Naked and the former CEO and Chairman of Havas Media Group. In his role as Sydney chairman, he will recruit, support and foster the next generation of agency talent.
Wilson said: “I know what you’re thinking: here’s another one of the usual suspects on the agency leadership merry-go-round. But my intention for Hatched Sydney is to empower tomorrow’s agency CEOs by advising and supporting the incredible talent we have joining us. The Sydney leadership team will be the best in the business.
“There’s a real stagnation in agency models in Australia and it’s time for a disruptive player to shake up the Sydney market. I’m impressed with what Jack and the team have done with Hatched in Melbourne, creating what is deservedly recognised as one of the best agencies in the country. It was a no-brainer for me to come on board to help the business extend into new territory.”
Man of Many appoints former news.com.au video & social producer as head of social
Australia’s largest men’s lifestyle publication Man of Many, has appointed former News.com.au senior video & social producer, John Guanzon as head of social.
With a career spanning more than 12 years in digital content production, Guanzon brings a unique and multifaceted skill set that draws from his experience in the news media, film and television industry.
He specialises in creating engaging social content, with an applied passion for emerging trends and optimising digital product to best connect with audiences.
Guanzon joins the team having previously worked as digital producer for Australian production company, Fremantle, where he oversaw digital production for some of the country’s biggest reality and entertainment lifestyle programs.
In his most recent role at News Corp, he took the lead in producing high-volume social and video content for the media giant’s biggest news site, covering everything from breaking news and entertainment to internet trends.
Television
Kyle Sandilands reveals he’s returning as Australian Idol judge
Kyle Sandilands has confirmed rumours he’ll be reprising his role as a judge on the returning season of Australian Idol, reports News Corp’s Lexie Cartwright.
The 51-year-old shock jock made the announcement on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday morning, despite getting a text from an unknown figure saying, “Don’t officially announce that you’re on it.”
The new father, who welcomed his first child Otto with fiance Tegan Kynaston last week, revealed he’s set to be the first judge attached to the show – which has been off-air for more than a decade and is finally returning to screens on Channel 7 in 2023.
And true to form, Sandilands said he only agreed to the gig if Seven bosses delivered his contract personally so he could sign the papers live on-air.
Married at First Sight 2023: Melinda Willis revealed as first bride for new series
It’s nearly time to strap in for the best reality TV drama going, with filming for next year’s instalment of Married at First Sight well and truly underway, reports news.com.au.
And the first bride on the 2023 edition of MAFS has broken cover.
Melinda Willis, a flight attendant turned beautician from Brisbane, will appear on the next season of the show.
The glamorous blonde was seen filming scenes for next year’s show, Daily Mail Australia reported.
Melinda, who boasts more than 150,000 Instagram followers, was among 10 brides seen filming a party scene in Sydney.
Sarah Harris’s cheeky swipe at Channel 10’s morning line-up
Channel 10’s struggling new early morning news program, 10 News First: Breakfast, set an unfortunate record on Wednesday. According to OzTam TV ratings, as reported by The Australian, the program had zero viewers in Perth. That result is, obviously, worse than when one day last month the news bulletin had 43 viewers in Perth and 44 in Sydney, reports news.com.au.
Channel 10’s morning line-up of 10 News First: Breakfast and Studio 10 has been floundering as it stumbles against its competitors on Channel 7, Channel 9 and the ABC.
Its woes even became the butt of jokes at media industry event the Kennedy Awards on Friday night, at which Studio 10’s Sarah Harris and 10 News First: Breakfast’s Lachlan Kennedy were hosts.
Fronting a crowd of 500 journalists, producers and industry people, Harris scanned the room and zinged, “Wow, so this is what it’s like to have an audience!”
The brutal joke was followed up by her equally-good-sport colleague Kennedy, who said, “I’m the host of 10 News First: Breakfast – thank you all for watching”.
Sports Media
AFL strives for record $3b broadcast deal
The AFL Commission will push to break its $3 billion record for a five-year broadcast and streaming deal from 2025, despite reports existing broadcast partners Foxtel and Seven West Media remain the favourites to retain the rights at present levels, reports Nine Publishing’s Patrick Durkin.
Outgoing AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan is determined to secure the record deal before he steps down at the end of the season. The commission, led by Qantas and Woodside chairman Richard Goyder, will meet on Monday to discuss the bids, the prospect of a Tasmanian team and McLachlan’s replacement.
The AFL signed a $2.5 billion, six-year deal with Seven and Foxtel (which owns streaming service Kayo) that expired this year, but was renegotiated during the pandemic for an extra two years until 2024 for $946 million.